Greensboro's migrant facility is now operational, but no timetable on when children may arrive

CHECK THE HOUR BY HOUR FORECAST. THE GREENSBORO CHILDREN’S CENTER AND INFLUX CARE FACILITY FOR UNACCOMPANIED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN BECAME OPERATIONAL TODAY, THAT FACILITY IS LOCATED ON HOBBS ROAD. AND CAN HOUSE UP TO 800 CHILDREN AGES 13 TO 17. AT THIS POINT, THOUGH, THERE ARE NO CHILDREN AT THAT FACILITY, AND THAT COULD CHANGE, THOUGH BASED ON CAPACITY LIMITS AT OTHER CENTERS. CHRIS PETERSEN SPOKE WITH AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS CENTER AND SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT IT PROVIDES. AS. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE GREENSBORO CHILDREN’S CENTER HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AND THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE FACILITY. BUT IN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, I SPOKE WITH SAID NEIGHBORS SHOULDN’T BE CONCERNED. ED ALEXANDER, IF IS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY IN GREENSBORO, HE SAYS THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE HOUSED AT THE GREENSBORO CHILDREN’S CENTER HAVE BEEN THROUGH UNIMAGINABLE TRAUMA COMING THROUGH FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS OFTEN FRAUGHT WITH DANGERS. MANY PEOPLE CAN BE VICTIMS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CRIME, INCLUDING VIOLENT CRIME, ON THEIR WAY HERE AND WE CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT’S LIKE FOR THE 13, 14, 15 YEAR OLD CHILD GOING THROUGH THAT. IF SAYS THE CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE TRAUMA CARE CASE MANAGEMENT AND THEY’LL BE TAUGHT ENGLISH, FACILITIES LIKE THE ONE ON HOBBS ROAD ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP CHILDREN IN SAFER, MORE COMFORTABLE LIVING CONDITIONS THAN THE ADULT FACILITIES AT THE BORDER. EVERYBODY IS SEEN ON THE NEWS AS PEOPLE, UH, PICTURES OF CHILDREN ESSENTIALLY IN CAGES OR BEHIND FENCES. AND AGAIN, AS A YOUNG CHILD OR EVEN AS A TEENAGER. HOW TRAUMATIZING. THAT EXPERIENCE MUST BE. OR TO BE HOUSED IN A GENERAL POPULATION WITH OTHER ADULTS. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF CAN BE CHALLENGING, EVE SAYS THAT THE CITY SHOULD RECEIVE SOME NOTICE OF WHEN CHILDREN WILL START COMING TO THE CENTER, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG JEFFERSON AND HOBBS ROADS SHOULDN’T BE CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY. IT’S AN OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT. IT’S NOT THE OFFICE. OF LET’S BRING AS MANY CRIMINALS TO GREENSBORO AS WE CAN. THESE ARE KIDS. THEY’RE 13 TO 17 YEAR OLD. THEY’RE PEOPLE THAT LEFT THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, WHICH I’M SURE IF IT WERE SAFE AND HAD OPPORTUNITIES AND IF THEY FELT THEY COULD STAY, WOULD PROBABLY MUCH RATHER BE THERE THAN NEXT TO THESE NEIGHBORS HERE IN GREENSBORO. EVE ALSO SAYS WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP THESE CHILDREN. WE’RE PUTTING IN A LOCATION THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE, TO A USE THAT IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH INCREDIBLY HARD TIMES, THAT ARE GOING TO FACE POTENTIAL TRAUMA FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I THINK IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF, NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE SCARED OF. AND ALEXANDER EVE SAYS THAT THIS FACILITY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, IF NOT THE BIGGEST, IN THE UNIT

The Greensboro Children's Center, an influx care facility for unaccompanied immigrant children, became operational today. The facility is located on Hobbs Road in Greensboro and can house up to 800 children ages 13 to 17.No children are currently placed at the facility, but that could change based on capacity limits at other centers. Chris Petersen spoke with an immigration attorney about the center and the services it provides to immigrant children.People who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Greensboro Children's Center have concerns about security and lack of transparency about the facility. But an immigration said neighbors shouldn't be concerned.Alexander Eife is an immigration attorney in Greensboro. He says the 800-bed facility will house children between the ages of 13 and 17 who are not here with their parents. Many of them have traveled from Central and South America in unimaginable conditions and have faced dangers that could traumatize them for the rest of their lives.At the Greensboro Children's Center, these children will receive counseling, case management and learn to speak English. Eife says neighbors shouldn't be concerned about their safety. These are children, not criminals, that were left with the difficult decision of living in dangerous conditions at home or looking for a new life in America. He says the people of Greensboro should be proud of the facility.Eife said, "We're putting a location that has been empty and not been used for quite a while to a use that is very beneficial to a lot of people that are going through incredibly hard times, that are going to face potential trauma for the rest of their lives. I think it's something that we as a community should be proud of, not something that we should be scared of."Now, there is no timetable as to when children will be housed at the facility on Hobbs Road, but Eife says the city should be notified by the Office of Refugee Resettlement when it happens.

GREENSBORO, N.C. —

No children are currently placed at the facility, but that could change based on capacity limits at other centers. Chris Petersen spoke with an immigration attorney about the center and the services it provides to immigrant children.

People who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Greensboro Children's Center have concerns about security and lack of transparency about the facility. But an immigration said neighbors shouldn't be concerned.

Alexander Eife is an immigration attorney in Greensboro. He says the 800-bed facility will house children between the ages of 13 and 17 who are not here with their parents. Many of them have traveled from Central and South America in unimaginable conditions and have faced dangers that could traumatize them for the rest of their lives.

At the Greensboro Children's Center, these children will receive counseling, case management and learn to speak English.

Eife says neighbors shouldn't be concerned about their safety. These are children, not criminals, that were left with the difficult decision of living in dangerous conditions at home or looking for a new life in America. He says the people of Greensboro should be proud of the facility.

Eife said, "We're putting a location that has been empty and not been used for quite a while to a use that is very beneficial to a lot of people that are going through incredibly hard times, that are going to face potential trauma for the rest of their lives. I think it's something that we as a community should be proud of, not something that we should be scared of."

Now, there is no timetable as to when children will be housed at the facility on Hobbs Road, but Eife says the city should be notified by the Office of Refugee Resettlement when it happens.

Greensboro's migrant facility is now operational, but no timetable on when children may arrive

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